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<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>A few days ago, I forwarded my monthly notes to all on our distribution
list.</DIV>
<DIV>I have pasted President Riccobono’s weekly notebook distributed to
affiliate leaders. I decided to forward to all as it provides much
material for your review and sharing.</DIV>
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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">We
care. We
share. We grow. We make a difference<BR>Joe Ruffalo, President <BR>National
Federation of the Blind of New Jersey <BR>973 743
0075<BR>nfbnj1@verizon.net<BR><A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Raising
Expectations To Live The Life You Want.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Your
old
car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.<BR>Donate your unwanted
vehicle
to us by clicking <BR>www.carshelpingtheblind.org <BR>or call 855 659
9314<BR></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>**</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>President’s Notebook</DIV>
<DIV>National Federation of the Blind</DIV>
<DIV>Mark A. Riccobono</DIV>
<DIV>officeofthepresident@nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org></DIV>
<DIV>410-659-9314</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dear Fellow Federationists,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I hope this message finds you doing well and with your taxes filed. We
are
now entering that window of time where the preparations for our national
convention compete with all of the other great things that are happening. We
are
juggling many things while preparing for the convention, including an
important
hearing on the Marrakesh Implementation Act this week. Your convention ideas
are
still welcome.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In preparation for the national convention, I note that we have some
new
delegates to the convention. If our new delegates are interested in having a
call to discuss the responsibilities of the delegates, please let me know.
In
the meantime, I encourage all affiliates to be thinking about their gifts to
the
national organization. We cannot continue to raise expectations without the
funds to allow us to be in the right places at the strategically right time.
Contributions from affiliates to the national organization make a difference
in
our having funds to carry out the work directed by the convention.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Critical Actions This Week:</DIV>
<DIV>Marrakesh Treaty Update:</DIV>
<DIV>On Wednesday, April 18, the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
will
be holding a hearing regarding the Marrakesh Treaty. The hearing will be
held at
10:30 a.m. in the Senate Dirksen Office Building, room 419. Scott LaBarre
will
be testifying on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind. Those in
the
local area who are available should consider attending. The hearing will
also be
live-streamed at <A
href="https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/treaties-041818">https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/treaties-041818</A>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>News:</DIV>
<DIV>Proposals for Tactile Graphics Symposium Presentations Now Being
Accepted:</DIV>
<DIV>The Tactile Graphics in Education and Careers Symposium will take place
at
the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute on October 11-12,
2018.
Proposals for general session and breakout session presentations will be
accepted until May 7, 2018. For additional information about the symposium,
please visit <A
href="https://nfb.org/tactile-graphics-education-and-careers-symposium">https://nfb.org/tactile-graphics-education-and-careers-symposium</A>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Links to News:</DIV>
<DIV>There was an article about the subminimum wage ban for which the NFB of
Washington advocated in Seattle that can be found at <A
href="http://kuow.org/post/seattle-bans-subminimum-wages-people-disabilities">http://kuow.org/post/seattle-bans-subminimum-wages-people-disabilities</A>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Also, over the weekend there was an article and video about a new
Braille
standards proposal in DC<<A
href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/dc-council-bill-aims-to-introduce-braille-education-to-kids/65-538135933">https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/dc-council-bill-aims-to-introduce-braille-education-to-kids/65-538135933</A>>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dates to Keep in Mind:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> * May 1, 2018: Deadline for NFB EQ program
applications<<A
href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq">http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq</A>></DIV>
<DIV> * May 1, 2018: Deadline for Distinguished Educator
of
the Year nominations<<A
href="https://nfb.org/divisions-and-committees#DistinguishedEducatorBlindChildren">https://nfb.org/divisions-and-committees#DistinguishedEducatorBlindChildren</A>></DIV>
<DIV> * May 31, 2018: Deadline for preregistration for
2018
National Convention<<A
href="https://convention.nfb.org/">https://convention.nfb.org/</A>></DIV>
<DIV> * July 3-8, 2018: National Federation of the Blind
National Convention<<A
href="https://nfb.org/convention">https://nfb.org/convention</A>>,
Orlando,
Florida</DIV>
<DIV> * July 29-August 4, 2018: NFB EQ<<A
href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq">http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq</A>></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between
blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is
not
what holds you back.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mark A. Riccobono</DIV>
<DIV>President</DIV>
<DIV>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</DIV>
<DIV>(410) 659-9314 |
officeofthepresident@nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>[National Federation of the Blind]<<A
href="https://nfb.org/">https://nfb.org/</A>></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
[Facebook] <<A
href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind">http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind</A>>
[Twitter] <<A
href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice</A>>
[Youtube] <<A
href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind</A>></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.</DIV>
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<DIV>Disclaimer</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>